Beet topper



Nv. 29, 1927. v1,651,030

A. KOWALSKY BEET TOPPER Filed July 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Xltgl* Wen/2301i nclrwffawaly,

Nov. 29, '1927.

A. KOWALSKY BEET TOPPER Filed July 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. '29, 1927. 1,651,030

A. KOWALSKY BEET TOPPER Filed Ju1y5, 1923 4 sheets-sheer 4 .y R? l| [uuuUUUmLJLl/LJLJLI 'r latented Nov, 2Q,

NETE@ STATES v mentors, rosso, intrants-a Correaerrors or Naw JERSEY.

SGNR TS llNEER'NATIONAL HAR,-

Bnnr, resinas.

Application 1efl July 5,

rthis invention relates to machines for topping` growing beets and is directed` to improvement in the `mechanism for gaging the cut and for automatically causiA y less of the beet top to be sliced off accord-ing to the extent to which the beet and its leaves project above the ground, the height of 4die beet top, and leaves controlling the size of the slice taken oli, and the principal object of the invention, therefore, is to simplify the mechanism and improve its accuracy ofop- Y eration and' ease of adjustment and control.

rlhe invention accordi v resides in the novel construction and combnationV of parts, or the equivalents thereof, hereinafter described and claimedj and illustrated' in detail in the accompanying drawings where,-

Fig. 1 is a plan vevf of the machine embodying my invention Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the saine, one wheel being omitted; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side view of the topping` devices and the supporting elements therefor', Y

Fig. 4 is a; transverse ection through the machine on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sin'iilarscction on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is av sectionalA detail view of the mounting for the main adjusting lever.

rllhe machine embodyingv the invention comprises a main frame 10, formed'at each side with parallel inner and outer members 11 and 12. A seat post 13 is secured to the rear of the frame,l and the front frame bar carries a draft bracket 14 in which thereis pivotally mounted the drafttongne 15', preferably by means of the double pivot joint shown, in connection with which suitable means (not shown) for adjusting the angularitv and height of the tongue may be provided, as usual in this type of machine. At cach side of the frame` the members 11' and 12 have journal brackets secured thereto in' which are mounted the axles 1,6` that have fixed thereto the supporting wheels 17. At a point between the members 11, 12, each axle has secured to it a main drive sprocket 1S, connected by sprocket chains 19 with sprocket pinions on the ends of a countershaft 21 journaled under the front end ofthe frame. These pinions are connected to shaft 21` by suitable pawl and ratchet clutches 22 to provide differential drive, and' suitable means,- not show/infor throwing the drive in.

lll

1323'. Serial N0. (549,429.

and out are provided- The shaft 21 is preferably journaled in the lower arms of bra-ckn et members, orrcastings, 23 (Fig. 3) which are' formed with arms projectingabove and below the frame where they serve tosupport the transverse bearing shafts these sha ts there are pivoted upper and lower pairsof bars 26. 27 which a-reheldf in parallel relation` vertically and forni the main members ots floatingA frame structure carrying the topping mechanismz tobe described.

rrt the rear ends, the bars 26, 27, are'- connected pivotally by transverse shafts '28, 29, `which also serve as bearing shafts for the armsv of upperandA lower bearing castings, or brackets, 80, 31, connectedfbyl a vertically ext-ending' housing 32'.v The shafts 28', 29, .-onnecting 7themembers 26, 27, are, therefore, held in parallel relation bythe housing 32 when thesev parts, constitutingl the float* ing frame,` move up andl downl during-operetion of the machine; 'As means for shifting the floating frameto and from working position, the housing 32 is formed with a4 flange or web 33, towhich is lixed a lifting arm 34 that` extends rearwardly below the frame and then upwardly to a point within Vreach of the operator occupyingthe-seat ony stand ardi 1'3".v Just below'therear franiebar, arm is provided withl a springl held dog,` 35, controlled by a hand pieceSG ony the endof arm 34, and adapted to'antomatically hook oveil the rear'bar ofthe main frame when the Heating frame'is lifted by means of arm 34', and to be released by actuation of hand pieceBG when the floating'fnine is to belet down.

ln thebrackets 80, 31, and the housing 32.` there is ournaled' an upright knife-shaft 37 which has a. forwardly and downwardly eX- tending cutting blade 3S secured to its lower end,`this blade being formed'with a horizontally disposed arcuate knife edge. Just above the lower bearing` bracket 311, the knife-shaft 37 has securedI to it a laterally extending* operating arm 38 provided with a spherical head 39- on its end (Figo). In a bearing bracket 40,l preferably cast as part of one of the arms 23 on the forwardl portion of the main frame. there is journaled a stub shaft 41 which has fixed to it a pinion 42 that is in mesh with a. relatively large drive year 43 on counter-shaft 21I endeten-shaft 4-1 fccordinggly driven at comparatively high 24, 25, and: on Y speed. At' its inner end, stub shaft 41 has fixed to it a crank wheel la to which there .is eccentrically pivoted the forward end of fist means. for:controlliing tho in'ztionvoff` the cutter, the upper and lower brackets 3l), 3l, of the floating frame carry suitable lugs to which are attached as at i1-,7, lith (Fig. 3) the ends of two pairs of supporting arms i9 which converge forwardly and downwardly to a point a foot or so above the ground line where their connected ends form bearings for the ends of a shaft 50. The Vupper pair of arms i9 are preferably'connected and securely braced transversely by the cross frame 5l (Fig. l). The shaft 53() pivotally carries the :forward ends of a pair of spaced bars 52 that extend rearwardly towards the cutter, their rear ends being provided with longitudinally adjustable arms n5 3 which carry a shaft Selcorreimondingtor shaft 50. The shafts and each have secured t-hereon sprockets 55 and over these there is trained an endless gage apron which is preferably formed of articulated slats 57 having outwardly extending flanges 58. F or the purpose of supporting and adjusting the rear portion of the gage apron, thev arms 53 have pins 59 to which are attached a pair of links 60 that converge at the upper ends where they are connected` adjustably to the horizontally extending arm 6l of a bell-crank mounted to oscillate on shaft 28. The other arm, S2, of the bel'- crank extends upwardly and is provided with a series of notches (33 on its rear edge. It slidably carries a latch sleeve G4 that has a rearwardly projecting hand piece and a spring pressed dog G6 cooperating with notches 63, by means of which the sleeve may be adjusted-and locked at any point along arm 62. The sleeve 64tis pivotally connected by bar 67 to a rocking arm 68 on shaft 24 and this arm is connected by a. rod 69 to an adjusting` lever 70 pivoted on the frame bar ll, this struct-ure providing .means for adjust-ing the height of the rear portion of the gage apron and consequently the depth of cut and also the differential movement, of the gage with respect to the cutter.

The apron gage 56 is preferably driven a speed corresponding` approximately to that of travel of the machine and the drive is transmitted to the apron from countershaft 2l through chain 7l which connects a. sprocket "(2 on shaft 2l with a sprocket 73 directly above it on shaft 24. Sprocket 73 rotates with a sprocket 74 mounted beside it and sprocket 74. is connected by chain 15 with a sprocket T6 on the shaft Q8 in the upper rear portion ofthe floating frame. F rom this shaft the drive is transmitted to the apron through a. sprocket 77, chain 7S,

`and sprocket 79 on the end of shaft 50 which carries the front of the gage apron. By this arrangement of driving elements, the rising-r and falling movements of the floating frame are not interfered with.

lt is to be noted that the construction and Aarrangemontv of thc'- floating frameV carrying' tent of this differential movement is con-` trolled by the position of sleeve (lelon arm 62. The differential action is due to the fact that as gage 56 rides over a beet top it will raise the whole floating frame with it, but owing to the connection of links 60 with the bell-crank onr shaft 28, the arm G2 of which is connected by link 67 to arm 68 that is locked in position-by lever ,i0,the arm will be forced to swing rearwardly as the floating frame rises and arm 6l will swing upwardly, thereby accelerating the upward movement of the gage apron. The amount of this acceleration will, evidently, be greatest when sleeve Gel is at the bottom of arm 62 and grows less as the sleeve tielis moved of the beet tops encountered.k lVhen a high-.

growing beet is encountered the apron will rise correspondingly, but the cutter, owing` to the novel arrangement of parts above described, will not rise to the same extent as the apron and it will engage the beet at a considerable distance downwardly from its crown. or leaves, and at a point some distance abovethe ground line, thus severing the top at the correct distance below the leaves which, on a high growing beetv is farther down on the beet than when the beet sets low in the ground. @n a low-growingr beet the apron will rise but slightly and the cutter will act close to the ground line and at less distance froml the beet leaves. It is seen, therefore, that a larger piece will be cut from the topvof a high growing beet, but

comprising at a higher level from'the ground, than from a low'growing beet,and` as the amount that should be cut od increases inproportion to the height of the' beet,-the mechanism will operate automatically to control tne amount of cutlt is also evident that adjustment of the cut can readily be effected by lever i0 and the extent of differential mo ement between the blade and determined bv means of sleeve 6d, and that the parallel move-ment of themain members ot theiloating frame will preserve-the proper positionsl of the gage and cutter during vertical moiement, the cutter blade always operating horizontally.

Having described my invention, what l claim is:V Y

l. 'ln a topping machine, the combination tween the gage and cutter including a link connecting` said lever with the supporting frame.

VQ. ln a topping machine the combination of a supporting frame, a floating frame vertically spaced parallel members each pivoted at one end to thesupporting frame, a cutter carried by the other end of said members, an endless gager apron pivotally supported on the floating frame and having a portion in position to engage the ground in advance of the cutter, a member mounted to oscillate on the floating frame, a connection between the ground engaging portion of the apron and said member, and another connection between said member and the supporting frame.

3. In a. topping machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a floating frame comprising vertically spaced parallel members pivoted at one end to ythe supporting frame, a cutter carried by the other end of said members, an endless gage apron having its forward portion pivotally supported on the floating frame and its rear portion in position to engage the ground in advance of the cutter, a bell-crank mounted to oscillate on the floating frame, a connection between the rear portion of the apron and one 'arm of the bell-crank, a connection between the other arm of vthe bell-crank and the supporting frame. and means for adjusting said connection along said arm.

comprising vertically spaced parallel members pivoted at one` end'to the supporting frame, a movable cutterV having a shank journaled on the other end of said members, a. gage apron having one end pivotally supported on the floating frame and its other end in position toengage the ground in advance of the'cutter, a bell-crank mounted to oscillate on Vthe floating frame, a connection between thegage and one arm of the bell-crank, a rock-arm mounted on thev supporting frame, la link connecting the other arm of the bell-crank with the rock-arm, and an adjusting lever mounted on the supporting` frame and connected to the rock-arm.

' 5. ln a topping machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a floating frame comprising verticallyT spaced parallel mem--l bers pivoted at their forward ends to the supporting frame, a housing pivotall7 connected to the rear ends of said members, an upright shaft journaled in said housing and provided with a.y cutter on its lower end, traction actuated means for oscillating said shaft and cutter, gage adjustably mounted on said floating frame and adapted to enthe ground in advance of said cutter, and connecting` means between the gage and supporting frame including means controlled by the movements of the floating frame for automatically adjusting the gage with respeci; to the cutter.

' having a rear portion adapted to engage the ground in front of said cutter and having its forward portion carried on forwardly and downwardly extending rigid supports fixed to the rear ends of said parallel members, whereby the cutter and gage are held in true horizontal position during movement of the floating frame.

7. In a topping machine, the combination of a supporting frame. a floating frame comprising vertically7 spaced parallel members pivoted to the supporting frame at their forward ends, an. upright member pivotally connecting the rear ends of said members and maintaining them in parallel relation, a cutter carried beneath the lower end of said upright member, a gage apron hahving` its forward end pivoted on the ends of forwardly' and downwardly extending supports fixed to the rear ends of said parallel members and having its jrear end adapted to engage the ground in advance of said cutter. an adjusting link supporting the rear end of said' apron and connected to an oscillating member on the floating frame, and

*Heating* tra sappi an adjustable connection between said member and the supporting frame.

8. in topping` machine, the combination ot a supporting frame, a vertically movable floating trame carrier thereon, a housing supported on the 'tloating trame and having an upright shaft journaled therein1 a cutter on the lower end ot said shaft having" a horizontal knife edge, traction driven means `on the supporting Ytrame for oscillating' said.

shaft and cutter. and an adjustable gage on said floating traine adapted to engage 'the ground in advance of said cutter.

9. In a topping` machine. thc combination of a supi, ing trame, a r ally fable 1 'aan i j supported on the VHeating trai .e and having an upright shaft journaled therein, a Cutter on the lower end el" said shaft having a horizontal knife e and traetioadriven means on the supporti tran/'ie oscillating said shaft and cutter.

l0. In a topping machine. f

Q 'freine I t* t prising vertically spaced parallel members pivoted to the suppe ting traine at their forward ends, an upright housing to which. the rear ends of said membes are pivoted, a shaft journaled in thehonL i, a cutter on the lower end of said shaft Having a horizontal knife edge, and traction driven means on the supporting trame for oscillating said shaft and cutter.

ll. In a topping machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a floating frame com` prising vertically spaced parallel members pivoted at-the forward ends thereof to the supporting trame and pivotally connected at the rear ends by a vertical frame section, a cutter carried by said vertical section, a movable gauge positioned ahead of the cutter and also carried by said vertical frame section,.and means Comprising pivotal connections between the gauge, the l'loating frame, and the supporting frame for causing difcombination terential movement of the gauge with respect to said vert-ical section ot the floating traine. i

l2. In a topping machine, the Combination ot' a supporting trame, a `floating frame comprising vertically spaced parallel members pivoted at the 'forward ends thereof to the supporting trame and pivotally'connected at the rear ends by a vertical trame section, a torwarffllj extending support secured to said vertical section, a rearwardly extended n'iembcr pivoted at its toi-ward end to said support, means tor pivotallj7 supporting the rear end of said gauge, and a cutter l l) f' e vert' lf3. ln a topping machine, the combination of a supporting trame, a supplemental trame connected thereto for tree movement vertically, cutter frame, i @auge vertically movable carried Leb by thesupplemental `frame in advance of the Y nl; mounted to oscillateon ally connec ting the gauge to one arm of the bell crank, a sleeve slidably adjustable on the other arm oit the bell crank, and a link pivotl.'v connecting` the sleeve to the supporting :t supporting frame, a supplemental frame connected thereto :toriree movement verticalljm'a cutter carried by the supplemental frame, a gauge vertically movable carried by the supplemental frame in advance of the cutter, a bell crank mounted to osclllate onv ANDREW KOVALSKY.

carried b the suplemental` Y lll 4. ln a topping machine, the combination 

